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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: exome

February 2015

Study downgrades autism gene’s effects to rare glitches

by  /  16 February 2015

After eight years of prominence as an autism risk gene, a new analysis significantly brings down CNTNAP2’s importance in the disorder: According to the study, rare mutations in a single copy of the gene are unlikely to cause autism. 

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Some sibling sets arrive at autism with different mutations

by  /  5 February 2015

Less than one-third of sibling pairs with autism who carry rare mutations in autism-linked genes share those mutations, according to the largest study yet to sequence whole genomes of people with the disorder. The study questions the assumption that autism’s risk factors run in families, but some experts are skeptical.

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January 2015

Small snippets of genes may have big effects in autism

by  /  22 January 2015

Small pieces of DNA within genes, dubbed ‘microexons,’ are abnormally regulated in people with autism, suggests a study of postmortem brains.

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December 2014

Notable papers of 2014

by  /  22 December 2014

It’s no easy feat to whittle down the list of the most influential autism papers to a mere 10. So please consider this but a taste of the burgeoning field, presented in chronological order and based on suggestions from many researchers.

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Editors’ picks: Our favorite stories from 2014

by  /  22 December 2014

This year was full of big headlines in autism research. But the biggest stories aren’t necessarily the best — here are some gems you may have missed over the year.

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Method predicts impact of DNA variants on gene expression

by  /  18 December 2014

A new computational approach predicts how sequence variations in both the coding and noncoding regions of a gene affect the gene’s expression. The method, described today in Science, may help researchers understand how specific variants contribute to disorders such as autism.

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Sequencing may offer smoother sailing in diagnostic odyssey

by  /  16 December 2014

Getting to a diagnosis of autism or another neurodevelopmental disorder is a long and frustrating experience for some families — especially when it comes to finding the underlying genetic cause. DNA sequencing could ease this arduous journey.

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Future of autism genetics should learn from its past

by  /  9 December 2014

To optimize the search for autism genes, researchers should collect large numbers of sequences — but the sequences need to be of the right kind, says Michael Ronemus.

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November 2014

Mystery gene uncovered in autism studies may steer neurons

by  /  26 November 2014

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Genetics first: A fresh take on autism’s diversity

by  /  24 November 2014

Each child with autism is different from the next. One approach rapidly gaining momentum makes sense of this diversity by grouping children together based on their genetics, then looking for patterns in their symptoms. The long-term aim: personalized treatments for each subtype of autism.

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